Checkrein-hook



(No Model.)

V. A. KREPPS.

GHEOKREIN HOOK.

No. 449,045. Patented Mar. 24,1891.

Jim; 2 I Jizveniozdrink or to rest.

UNITED STATES PATENT Cl rion.

VIRGIL A. KREPPS, OF KENSIOO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO \VILLIAM H. RUSHFORTH, OF RUTHERFORD, NElV JERSEY.

CHECKRElN-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,045, dated March 24, 189].

Application filed April 14, 1890. Serial No. 347,761. No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VIRGIL A. KREPPS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Kensico, in the county of \Vestchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Oheckrein-Hook, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the same, in which Figure 1 shows the device as it is ordinarily mounted. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line a- 00, Fig. 2, showing the hook slightly raised from normal position; and Fig. 4 is a similar View on line 3 y, Fig. 2, showing the hook reversed. v

As harness is ordinarily constructed and arranged, a person must alight from the carriage in order to loosen the checkrein for any purpose-for instance, to permit the animal to This is sometimes inconvenient, and to accomplish the loosening of the rein without alighting and at the same time provide means for again securing said rein is the main object of my invention, though Iconsider there is novelty in the form of the hook itself.

It consists, first, of a plate P, secured to the saddle of the harness or any other suitable part, or even of the vehicle, (other than at the horses head.) Pivoted upon this plate, preferably in pillow-blocks Z), extending upward, is a hook or pawl 13, the tooth of which is preferably set at an obtuse angle to the other part of the pawl, space being left between this 1ongitudinal part and plate P for the passage of a checkrein r, as shown. Then, as will read ilybe seen, the checkrein being provided with holes h, it may be secured at any point desired by merely drawing the rein back until the proper hole reaches the end of the pawl, when that will drop into it and prevent movement in the opposite direction,'and yet it may be released with extreme ease by drawing the rein a little fartherback and lifting the pawl, thusfurnishingan extremelysimple andeffective checkrein-hook; but this is not all. To accomplish such loosening, I provide upon what may be termed the axle of the pawl a cam or lug c, and upon the rein (at a point closer to the bridle end of the rein than that where it is desired to be held) I place another cam or lug 0', so located as to registervwith 0 when 1' is drawn backward. Now when the rein is drawn tighter log 0 engages with lug c and swings the pawl 29' over, reversing it, so that the catch-point is uppermost. This of course releases the rein and it may be permitted to slide forward as far as desired. At another point on the rein beyond the other end of the holes 71, or at such a point as will permit the rein to be loosened as much as desired, and preferably upon the opposite side of the rein, I place a thirdlug c and upon axle a a fourth lug or cam of, so placed as to register with 0 when r is drawn backward, provided the pawl 12 is reversed, as seen in Fig. 4. As a is drawn backward, when 0 strikes 0 the pawl 19 is swungbackward to its normal position, as seen in Fig. 3, and is in position to again engage with holes 71 when the rein is drawn back, thus again securing the checkrein in the desired position. A spring sis arranged to bear upon a to prevent the accidental misplacement of the pawl 19.

To avoidinconvenience,lrun the extended checkrein back to the hand of the driver by passing it through loops formed on one of the driving-reins R; but it may be independent of reins R if preferred.

The advantages of the device are manifest. At watering-troughs or in going up a hill, or when it is dark and the driverdesires to loosen the checkrein to let the animalpickhis own way, he need only draw upon the check-rein, when the pawl is thrown over, then loosen the rein and relieve the animal,when thehook is reversed ready to again engage and hold the rein the moment the driver again draws up upon the checkrein. Again, if an animal attempts to run away the driver can draw the checkrein very tightand it will hold securely, while the driver may devote his entire attention to guiding the animal or pacifying him by the use of the driving-reins. Stops of other character than holes it might be usedfor instance, metal lugs upon the rein; but the holes are cheaper to make and more convenient. cured to the saddle of the harness, and I usually construct it, as shown, with an ordinary hook above it.

As statedfthe pawl is preferably se- IOO register only with the second tripping-lug upon the pawl, said two rein-lugs being 1oeated at points diifering both in lateral and longitudinal position, all substantially as an d for the purpose specified.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 11th day 20 of April, A. D. 1890.

VIRGIL A. KREPPS.

Witnesses:

FRANK B. PIERDON, A. G. N. VERMILYA. 

